Unconventional by emertheawesome

Part I

A/N: So this is a random idea that just got WAY out of control. I’m not even sure how this happened. Because of that this will be posted in two parts. On a separate note, I finally finished the Avatar: The Last Airbender series, and I am IN LOVE. I think I may have to try my hand at some fanfiction for it, because WOW. Alright, well, now that I got that out of my system…. I don’t own Inuyasha. (Oh, and unbeta’d as usual, so apologies for any mistakes.)

UNCONVENTIONAL

Part I

When the elderly man shouted that a sacrifice was necessary the entire town erupted in a rabble that amounted to the sound of an impressive earthquake. No villager was unheard, a rolling symphony of cracking voices deafening the inhabitants of the decaying, wooden building.

“Is this the old ages?” One woman proclaimed, hair askew and cheeks flushed. “Are we resorting to the old practices?”

“We must do it!” Another man yelled desperately, “if one person can save us all, it is a necessary sacrifice!”

“But what would it want?” Someone else replied.

The hall hushed as a loud banging came from the barely raised dais, at which a middle aged, barrel chested man sat.

“Hush,” he asserted smoothly, calmly. “Let us take into account the other village’s practice. What is their usual sacrifice?”

“Pigs,” a girl muttered.

“Goats,” said another.

“But the demon came back!” a famer argued.

“Then more extreme measures,” mused the village leader, stroking his salt and pepper beard. “A human.”

The room immediately silenced, before once again exploding in another wave of arguments and dissent. The village leader waited patiently before raising a hand to once again subdue the crowd.

“A young woman. Virginal,” he informed them. “Who is available?”

Kagome, until that moment, had kept her silence. While she was as fearful and nervous of their marauding demon as the rest of the village was, she had no honest opinion as to what to do about it. As far as she knew, the most they could do was hide their livestock and huddle in their pitiful huts.

Of course, her interest had perked when the human sacrifice had been brought up; she had keyed into the debate. The moment ‘young woman’ and ‘virginal’ was brought up she knew she was in trouble.

A murmuring hum filled the sweltering hot space—a combination of body heat, torches, and a fire pit—before eyes slowly turned to her.

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Kagome had always been the model child. Though she was prone to fits of impracticality and severe disbelief when it concerned her family she had never outright shamed them. As a young woman she blossomed into a social girl who disliked chores and adored her fellow young women. As time passed though, Kagome had yet to pick a beau while all of her friends had been married off, one by one.

Kagome was beginning to regret her pickiness as coarse rope was tied around her wrists and ankles. The villagers were taking no chance in her wriggling free from the awkward confines. In the distance, Kagome could hear her mother sobbing and the angry shouts of her brother and grandfather. They had argued until their voices cracked, but their verbal barrage did little against a fearful mob of villagers. For her part, Kagome remained mostly silent, a sullen scowl on her face. If she thought about it clearly she knew she should be terrified and out of her mind with grief, but all she could think about was the way the rope chafed and the wind chilled her through her thin dress. They had definitely not let her dress for the cool, autumn weather.

From her vantage point Kagome could see the little huts of the village down the grassy slope of the knoll they had placed her on. She was hefted onto a post dug deep into the ground, the grain of the wood digging into her shoulder blades as they stretched her arms to hang above her. She looked exactly as a sacrificial virgin should—alone and vulnerable.

After being positioned to look as edible as possible—because that’s how, she assumed, they wanted her to appear—the villagers slumped off, dragging her family with them.

Kagome heaved a deep sigh and waited.

The breeze chilled her and she soon found herself shivering with the hopeless effort of trying to stay warm. Her body ached and her skin itched where the rope bit, and as dusk slowly crept across the sky Kagome entertained the feeling she wouldn’t die from being digested but actually fall victim to the autumn elements.

Another few hours and Kagome was thoroughly miserable and fed up and feeling quite hopeless. She had already tried to slip from her binds, but it appeared the men knew how to tie a tight knot. At this point Kagome was silently pleading for the demon to show just to put her out of her misery.

Head slumped, chin bumping her chest dejectedly, it took Kagome a moment to realize the chill breeze had been replaced by a warm, almost humidly hot wind.

Jerking her head up Kagome found herself staring into the feral red eyes of the demon.

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Kagome had never been a girl who was completely… normal. While it wasn’t correct to say she was used to the abnormal, it was safe to say she dealt with it much better than anybody else in her village. This meant that when tied up, sacrificed, and faced with the slavering maw of a monster who was supposed to eat her, Kagome did not cry and scream like she should have.

Kagome scowled. The beast was a giant white dog. His eyes were a malicious maroon, angry, like the color of fresh blood as it beaded on a human’s skin. His teeth were white, sharp, and many. His breath was noxious, a rancid smell that made her feel light headed, almost nauseous. On his brow, a violet crescent moon.

After the initial shock of being faced by her future death, Kagome waited patiently for the inevitable crush of her body between the demon’s fangs. After a few minutes of waiting, and—dare she say it?—sniffing Kagome was fed up.

“Get it over with, already!” She snapped, glaring at the beast defiantly.

The dog-monster pulled back slightly, quirking his head curiously. The snarl that had graced his muzzle faded, and his sharp teeth disappeared as he closed his mouth. Suddenly his nose shot forward to nudge her. Kagome shrieked as it coldly made contact with her stomach.

“Stop it, stop it, stop it!” She shrieked, putting as much ferocity into her glare as a completely helpless, tied up girl could. He pulled away again, and for some reason he didn’t look as intimidating as before. He looked like a giant… dog.

“Are you going to eat me or aren’t you?” she asked, though it wasn’t as angry this time.

Suddenly the dog sat back, reaching a claw for her. Kagome flinched, closing her eyes as she waited the inevitable gutting. To her surprise, nothing happened. In fact, she felt the ropes that held her so tightly to the wooden post fall away to let her arms flop painfully to her side. Kagome opened her eyes to stare aghast at the creature.

“…You’re releasing me?” she murmured, conscientious of the pain in her shoulders and wrists.

The dog huffed, then lay flat, looking at her pointedly.

Kagome dared a glance at her village. They would think her dead. They would think her sacrificed.

Yet as she stumbled over to the beast, tentatively pulling herself up his foreleg, onto his back, she couldn’t bring herself to care. They were the ones who had left her to die. They were the ones who had sacrificed her to ensure the comfort of their own lives.

And now Kagome was going to leave them. The power of the creature thrummed through her, a steady wave, like the wind of a hurricane, the turn of the moon over the ocean, or the steady beat of two lover’s hearts as they lay next to each other.

Burrowing into the coarse fur Kagome held on warily as the creature stood and strode off into the forest.

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Kagome nearly whimpered when the beast came to a halt and lay down, waiting patiently for her to slide off his back. She wished she could be so graceful, instead tumbling of his back in a heap and twisting her foot awkwardly on the rocky ground. The whimper she had stubbornly held back came forth in a strangled moan and tears pricked her eyes.

Her wrists chafed and her shoulders ached from her earlier binding. Her hands were stiff from gripping the dog’s fur so tightly. Her face and chest were frozen, skin stinging painfully from the whipping wind. And now, to top it all off, her ankle was tweaked. Furiously, Kagome wiped her eyes and sniffled.

They were against a cliff face. Dense forest surrounded them. Thick, towering trees pressed against the jutting rock. Against the looming night, Kagome couldn’t see any further.

Kagome nearly jumped as the demon turned his head, nudging her with his nose. He had stood up again, and now that he wasn’t blocking it she could see the large opening into a cave. He pushed her towards it, towards the darkness.

Kagome balked. “No, no.” She said shakily. “It’s too dark. I can’t see.”

He paused, and Kagome was sure he could understand her. Whatever he was, he wasn’t stupid.

He let out a exasperate sigh—at least that’s how Kagome interpreted it—then he settled back down. His long, flowing tail wrapped around her and Kagome stood stiffly, unsure as to his intent. He closed his eyes, then peeked at her, then closed his eyes again.

Tentatively, Kagome lowered herself into the crevice of his foreleg. His fur warmed her, and slowly his tail came to cover her. The situation was more surreal than Kagome could cope with, yet exhaustion overtook her and slowly she drifted off to sleep.

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The dawning sun woke her, piercing rays of light filtering through the thick umbrage. Also, the deep rumbling growl of the demon. It took a mere second for it to register before Kagome jumped up and back away from the creature. She eyed him warily, and he stared back at her before yawning, tongue lolling lazily. In a flash he stood, stretched, and bounded off, a long leap over the tree tops. The echo of the demon crashing through the woods lingered for a few minutes before silence reigned.

Kagome stared agape in the direction he had disappeared, then her legs collapsed beneath her.

Blinking blankly, Kagome just shook her head, bemused. How could her life have possibly taken such a turn? In all her imaginings of the future, this had definitely never been one of them. After a lengthy stretch of time that Kagome spent in a muted kind of shock she finally shook herself off and stood up to explore the area.

The cave, which was to be her first excavation, was still ominously dark. Only a few feet in Kagome gave up. Going into shadowy, terrifying caves had never been her strong suit, one that she wasn’t to upset about not having. Instead, she just did a sweep of the forest around the small clearing. The brush was dense and lush. Now that the demon was gone the natural sounds of the woods returned. Birds chattered, something rustled in the bushes nearby, a squirrel foraged in a tree.

After exploring as far as she was brave enough to walk, Kagome returned to the clearing to sit. Boredom set in, and she wondered whether she had been left there to fend for herself, or find her way home. If so, she knew she was in a big amount of trouble. She had lived in a farming community. While she knew the basics of survival, she had never been apt at the hunting or foraging arts. If asked to cultivate rice Kagome was an expert. If there was a request to make Oden, Kagome was your girl. If there ever was a fishing expedition, Kagome could be found swimming in the shallows, downriver from the young men attempting to catch trout.

Kagome really hoped the demon was coming back, along with something to eat, because her stomach was rumbling.

At about midday the sound of crashing invaded the peaceful little clearing. Kagome stood up from her uncomfortable position on the rocks and waited patiently. A few minutes later the dog appeared, skidding to a halt past her.  Kagome watched with wide eyes as it pawed the ground for a second, then turned to approach her. Once again she was overwhelmed by the sheer massiveness of the demon. He was taller at least two huts stacked, if not more. A paw could squash her with ease.

It was this perusal that distracted her from the rice sack that dangled from his mouth—a rice sack not filled with rice.

Kagome gasped as he dropped it in front of her, lurching to open it and rummage through. Inside was a figurative gold mine. Dried rabbit and vegetables. A small package of rice. A chipped pot. A water flask. A fur of some sort that would keep her warm at night. A crude lantern.

Immediately she snagged a piece of jerky and tore into it. While eating, Kagome proceeded to set the lantern beside her, turning to find some kind of flint. She was in luck, for the demon had retrieved that too. Kagome paused in her searching to look up at the beast, who was watching her closely.

“Thank you,” she said, and she was grateful.

The demon just blinked, continuing to stare at her. Kagome just shrugged it off and, finishing her food, went to start the lamp. With this, she could explore the cave that the dog had wanted her to enter.

While she still felt some trepidation about it, she knew that this could shelter her for a good amount of time if she felt the cavern was suitable.  After a few minutes of fumbling with the flint Kagome got the lantern started. It flickered weakly, and as she approached the cave Kagome began to have second thoughts. She immediately pushed them to the back of her mind and entered the cave.

The darkness receded beneath the lamp light, barely. The stone was worn and smooth, and patterned, as though waves had once struck it. Kagome’s brow furrowed. It was odd. She was positive there had been no water here. They were well above sea level.

Kagome glanced behind her to see the demon studying her from the entrance. He was too large to enter the cavern fully, blocking the entrance with his mass. Kagome turned away to continue into the cave. The floor was even, and as she went in the walls narrowed slightly, but not enough to cause discomfort. Curiosity arose as Kagome began to notice odd little things—a pile of furs in the corners, candles half melted away, a burned out fire pit.

Thankfully it wasn’t too deep. It ended in a hollowed out curve with a few sacks of rice piled haphazardly.

Kagome studied her surroundings blankly for a moment before backtracking out. The demon had moved away from the entrance, and was watching her with half lidded eyes. Kagome approached him tentatively.

“…Does someone already live there?”

His maroon eyes focused on her, and a large burst of air escaped his nose. Kagome fingered the lamp cautiously, finally remembering to blow it out.

“Alright…” Kagome murmured, question unanswered, “I think I’m going to go find some water….”

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Night found Kagome comfortably ensconced in her cave, full and wrapped in furs to keep her warm from the midnight chill. She had banked the embers, and her eyes were drooping with fatigue. The demon had settled down right outside the cave entrance, effectively blocking any breeze that might chill the small area.

As she drifted off to sleep, Kagome thought she might have seen the blurred image of a man. But that, she thought, was probably just a dream.

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Days passed in a humdrum haze for Kagome. Sometimes the demon was there, sometimes he wasn’t. When he was present he would lounge regally in front of the cave, or near the edge of the forest. He would watch her, contemplatively, it seemed. Periodically he would nose her into the cave and block the entrance, not letting her past for an extended amount of time.

These times would irritate Kagome, but make her feel leery as well. Sometimes a deep growl would rip through his chest and she would linger at the back of the cavern until he disappeared. 

Perhaps she was content, but Kagome couldn’t help but feel lonely. She was a social creature; she always had been, so being alone—except a monstrous demon dog—was slowly getting to her.

And that’s when she started seeing him.

It wasn’t a regular occurrence by any means, but it happened enough that Kagome was wary whenever she traveled to visit the small stream nearby. It was only mere glimpses. The first time she had seen him it was a shadow between the branches. From what she could see he was tall, she thought—pale, perhaps.

He had disappeared in a flash and Kagome’s heart thudded heavily against her chest the rest of the day, every noise making her twitch nervously. Sometimes she would snatch a glance of him out of the corner of her eye, sometimes a shadow at the entrance. Occasionally she would hear him, and as she whipped around to confront him he would disappear.

It never happened when the demon was there.

It left Kagome on edge whenever he was gone, and as hard as she tried, as watchful as she became, she could never seem to get a good look at the mysterious figure.

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The Inu no Taisho, while a fair man, was not always a patient man. Like his second son, he always wanted to know what everyone was preoccupied with, and why results weren’t happening as he expected. Thus, when his first son, Sesshomaru, became scarce Toga was curious, if not a little irritated.

He sat on the bamboo floor with a scowl, waiting for Inuyasha to appear before him. Sesshomaru was usually the dependable one, the staunch son whose level ways never left for any surprises. So, having him go missing for extended amounts of time was a shock for Toga, as well as the rest of the family.

“Old man.”

Toga raised an eyebrow at his youngest that had just appeared through the screen door.

“Son,” Toga greeted, ignoring Inuyasha’s blatant disrespect. “I’m assuming you know why you’re here.”

“Keh.” Inuyasha folded his arms, hands hidden in the thick folds of his bright red haori. “If this is about the bastard I don’t want to.”

“Unsurprising,” Toga replied drily. “But you still will. If he’s gotten into… trouble… I don’t want it to leave the family.”

“He’s a fucking bast—”

“Inuyasha,” Toga warned. “Please.”

Inuyasha grumbled and flattened his ears. Despite his rough demeanor and inappropriate language, he still respected his father greatly. As a hanyou he always felt the need to prove his strength, even in the intimate presence of his family.

“Yeah, whatever.” Inuyasha agreed. With a flurry of moon shine hair his second son left and the Inu no Taisho was left alone once again.

Sesshomaru’s behavior had been extremely odd as of late. Long absences, a dark mood, and missing supplies. Behind him, the screen slid open to reveal his wife.

“Izayoi,” Toga murmured as her arms came to wrap around him, covered as they were in the rich silk of her kimono.

“Toga,” she whispered, settling herself into his lap. “Sesshomaru…?”

“We will see,” he replied, nuzzling her. “It might be nothing.”

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For his part, Inuyasha was absolutely aggravated. Not only was this forcing him to deal with his brother, it was also taking time away from training. With Tetsuaiga just bequeathed to him it was his current goal to master it—along with absolutely decimating his half brother in battle.

Instead, now he would have to follow Sesshomaru like a dishonorable sneak. Inuyasha grimaced, tapping his foot as he lounged in a tree by the gate. Sesshomaru had been keeping a weekly schedule. He would arrive mid-afternoon and leave before night fell, usually toting a sack of rice or some other living necessity. Even Inuyasha had noticed this eccentric behavior.

A few female youkai passed beneath his branch, flowing gowns and sweet perfume floating around them like a fog. Inuyasha wrinkled his nose and flattened his ears at their twittering. He was never fond of venturing far from the dojo, or the family quarters. In between with courtesans, politicians, and tradesman Inuyasha lost his temper much too easy.

Foot twitching Inuyasha waited, and as soon as he caught the scent of what he had been waiting for he dropped from the branch.

“Oi, bastard!”

Sesshomaru was just stepping through the gate, back stiff, bearing regal, and gaze cold.

“Half-breed,” he greeted dryly.

“Where ya been?” Inuyasha questioned, never one for subtlety.

Sesshomaru quirked an imperious eyebrow. “I’m positive that is none of you business.”

Inuyasha cracked his knuckles lazily. “Pretty sure it’s the Old Man’s business though.”

Sesshomaru snorted, a rare occurrence. “And I am sure he will recover from his temporary ignorance. You can inform him to mind his own business as well.”

Inuyasha laughed, though there was no humor. “Good luck with that, bastard. I ain’t tellin’ him that.”

Sesshomaru shrugged, seemingly done with the conversation as he padded away. Inuyasha watched him with narrowed eyes until the youkai disappeared around the corner. Sesshomaru would soon learn not to discredit his younger sibling. Inuyasha smirked, tapping his nose as he strode out of the gate.

After all, he could track as well as any full youkai, if not better.

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Kagomes sojourn in the wilderness had left her with the obligations that came with living alone in a cave: sweeping, washing, cooking. It wasn’t quite enough to keep her busy, but it was enough to keep her sane for the time being.

Sunlight was filtering through the foliage as Kagome wondered the edge of the trees, collecting periwinkles and daisies. She was feeling unproductive and bored, and the demon had been gone since early morning. Kagome refused to admit missing him, but she was definitely much more entertained with his presence, despite the fact that he rarely did anything more than lounge and study her. Yet with his presence she was able to talk to someone without feeling completely crazy, even if he never responded with more than a deep sigh or a low amused huff.

Completing her delicate bouquet Kagome wandered back to the clearing, only to stop short as a figure appeared from the darkness.

He was clad completely in red—hakama and haori. His hair was long, and a pure, lovely white, like the richest of silks. At his hip hung a rusted katana.

He scowled at her as Kagome attempted to remain speechless.

“So,” he said, and then she noticed his fang, claws, and ears—dog ears. “This is what that bastard has been up to.”

Kagome stepped from the cover of the trees, eyes wide. “Excuse me?”

“Don’t play stupid, wench. You’re the one that’s been keeping him here.”

Kagome was aghast. “What are you talking about?”

Inuyasha growled, but instead of looking fearful like she probably should, Kagome frowned.

“Who are you?” She questioned suspiciously. “Are you the one that’s been spying on me?”

Inuyasha paused, taken aback. “Eh?”

A mini standoff ensued, with Kagome eyeing the hanyou, and Inuyasha staring the girl down incredulously.

“Stupid wench!” Inuyasha spat, “why would I spy on you?”

“I don’t know,” Kagome growled back impressively, “you tell me that.”

“I haven’t been spying on you!”

Kagome’s tense stand finally dissipated and she offered a weak smile. “Okay, I understand. You weren’t spying, but why are you here?”

Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably, eyes flickering around the clearing. “I was sent here—check on my brother,” he mumbled.

“Your brother…?” Kagome echoed, staring at him blankly. She stared at his claws, fangs, eyes, and then finally his ears. Comprehension dawned.

“The demon!” she exclaimed. “You know the demon!”

Inuyasha gaped at her, “-the fuck?”

Kagome strode up to him, still clutching her—now crumpled—flowers. “Do you know the big dog? Do you?”

“Big…dog.”

Kagome nodded vigorously, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Yes! I had no idea what was going on. He just brought me here, and he’s been bringing me stuff, and I hope he hadn’t been stealing or anything, though it’s awfully nice—”

Inuyasha cut her off. “He abducted you and he’s been taking care of you?”

Kagome nodded, almost shyly. “Though I don’t know if abduct is the right word….”

Inuyasha took a step back, paused, then burst into a fit of cursing. Kagome blinked at him and gaped, mouth opening and closing as if to speak.

After a few minutes she finally interrupted. “Um….”

“What?” Inuyasha snarled.

“Maybe we should talk…?”

Inuyasha calmed, straitened, then nodded hesitantly. Kagome smiled.

“My names Kagome. You?”

“Inuyasha.”

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They settled down in the cave, facing each other over her pitiful camp fire. Water boiled for tea, though judging from his demeanor Kagome highly doubted he would take any. Inuyasha shifted warily, eyes darting back and forth, settling on her, darting back and forth again.

“Is… something wrong?” Kagome questioned thoughtfully.

“Keh!” He exclaimed, “Nothin.’” But he continued to scan the cave as though waiting for an attack.

“So,” Kagome continued awkwardly, “you know the demon?”

“Keh! He’s my half brother.”

Kagome blinked. Her mind conjured up images of what their parents could possibly look like, and how this—mostly—humanoid looking male could be related to the hulking dog demon.

“Oh.” Kagome said instead.

Inuyasha was not blind to her incredulity though. “He doesn’t always look like a hella big dog.”

“He… doesn’t?”

Inuyasha grimaced. “Don’t you know anything about demons?”

Kagome shook her head slowly. “No…. This is my first time ever seeing any. My village was so secluded…. I think he was the first demon to really bother us.”

“Bother you.” Inuyasha repeated dumbly.

“Mmhm,” Kagome nodded. “He would sometimes steal a sheep or two. They thought he was going to attack us.”

“Sheep.”

Kagome sipped her tea calmly. “Yes, so that’s when they decided to sacrifice me.” She paused, contemplating. “I thought for sure he was going to eat me. Instead, he just took me here.”

Inuyasha gaped at her, aghast. “Are you crazy, wench?”

Kagome scowled fiercely, attempting to come up with a good response to his accusation. She was put off though, as Inuyasha froze, only his ears twitch. Immediately he stood up, body tense.

“Gotta go,” he muttered before striding quickly out of the cave. Kagome stumbled after him, confusion marring her face. As she emerged she saw him leaping off into the trees and disappearing in the foliage. Blinking, Kagome shook her head, slightly disappointed that her first verbal company—as crude as he had been—had left so soon. Sighing, Kagome turned to enter the cave again, only to pause at the crashing coming from the distance. A flock of small birds took to the sky, screaming their displeasure.

The dog demon landed in the clearing, almost knocking Kagome down with the force of his appearance. He was snarling, scanning the area as though searching for some kind of intruder. He turned to glare at her, sniffing slightly. Kagome remained completely still and silent. In a flash, he disappeared, leaping over the trees, following the path Inuyasha had taken. Shaken, Kagome entered the cave to finish her cooling tea.

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Inuyasha groaned, realizing that Sesshomaru had decided to follow him. Stopping, he unsheathed his sword. The crashing stopped, and Inuyasha realized he must have taken his humanoid form. This was confirmed as Sesshomaru appeared on an opposing tree branch.

“Half breed.”

“Bastard,” snarled Inuyasha. “So that’s what you’ve been fucking up to.”

“This is none of your concern.” Sesshomaru’s cold eyes were intent on him. Inuyasha didn’t care—his brother’s stare had long since stopped fazing him.

“You taking fucking human sacrifices is my concern. It’s the Old Man’s concern. It’s the fucking kingdom’s concern!”

“I am not taking human sacrifices.”

“Pretty sure,” Inuyasha argued, though he lowered his sword, “that the wench back there proves different.”

“Untrue.”

Inuyasha rolled his eyes at his Sesshomaru’s usual lack of elaboration. He waited—half impatiently—for Sesshomaru to continue.

“She is not disagreeable to living there.”

“Are you fucking serious?” Inuyasha asked, disbelieving. “She was so desperate to talk she invited a random demon into that cave!”

Sesshomaru stiffened; expression brittle. “That will not happen again.”

“Sure it won’t,” Inuyasha replied sarcastically. “Because you sure as shit can always be there.”

Sesshomaru didn’t respond. Inuyasha sighed, rubbing a clawed hand over his forehead. “I won’t tell the Old Man, just tell me what the hell you’re doing.”

Again, Sesshomaru chose the route of silence. Inuyasha was turning to leave when he finally spoke up.

“She is… interesting. There are no others.”

“Whatever,” muttered Inuyasha, “It’s on you.”

Sesshomaru remained on the tree branch for some time after Inuyasha’s departure, lost in thought.

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The second time Inuyasha visited her Kagome couldn’t help but flutter around him nervously.

“Are you alright?” “Did you and the demon fight?” Aren’t you supposed to be brothers?”

Inuyasha shook off her questions like a dog ridding himself from water after being dunked in a lake.

“Fuck, wench. Calm down. That bastard couldn’t take me if he tried.”

Kagome narrowed her eyes and bit her lip, but stopped with the worried questioning. Instead, she led him into the cave and settled down to make some tea for herself. Inuyasha was surly and unresponsive for the most part, but she couldn’t help the relief settle through her now that she had some form of company. At least company that could speak in words instead of barks and growls—not that the demon did much of that either.

Yet Inuyasha’s presence not only satisfied her need for company, but also her curiosity. Sort of.

“So, you and him are brothers?”

“Half Brothers.”

“Oh… half brothers?”

“Yes. Same father.”

Kagome nodded, eyes sparking with interest. “Why is he a dog, and you’re not?”

“Because,” Inuyasha said with faux dismay, “My mother is human. His isn’t.”

Kagome blinked. “You’re mother is human? So you’re… half?”

Inuyasha scowled and jerked his head in the affirmative. His amber gaze wasn’t meeting hers and his pose was brittle and harsh. Kagome would have to be blind not to notice his discomfort, and maybe anger too. She changed her line of questioning.

“How does that work? I mean, if he’s a giant canine and she’s a human….”

Inuyasha grimaced, looking on the verge of being appalled. “Wha—Ugh. No!” He blustered, cheeks turning nearly as red as his haori. “That’s just their youkai form! They’re usually humanoid!”

“Oh….” Kagome murmured, comprehension slowly dawning on her soft features. “So, then he could become human?”

“Keh! Not human, just more human. He’s still a demon.”

Kagome sipped her tea, shifting her legs to a less uncomfortable position on the stone floor. Furs only cushioned so much against the unyielding cold of the rock.

“So,” she mused, “why does he stay in that form?”

Inuyasha shrugged, unconcerned. “Hell if I know. Just ‘round here, I guess.”

Silence filled the cave, Inuyasha staring outside as a breeze tangled with the foliage and Kagome gazing into her tea.

“What’s his name?”

Inuyasha glanced at her sharply. “Eh?”

“His name?” She pressed, “What’s his name?”

“The bastard? Name’s Sesshomaru. Don’t know why you’d want to know that.”

Kagome smiled lightly. “Why not? I can’t keep calling him ‘dog.’”

Inuyasha smirked. “Sounds about right to me.”

She rolled her eyes, but laughed merrily.

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A few days later Sesshomaru was lounging outside, seemingly asleep as dusk ascended. The sky was painted a vivid purple and pink, the last rays of the sun reached across the clearing desperately. Kagome studied him for a few moments before approaching.

“Sesshomaru?” She whispered tentatively. “Sesshoumaru?”

Suddenly his eyes shot open and he was staring at her intently. Kagome smiled back.

“I just learned your name and wanted to try it.” She explained rather bashful.

Sesshomaru didn’t respond, but his eyes narrowed.

“I learned—um. I also learned—”

Sesshomaru huffed pointedly.

“Well, I learned that you could be… humanoid. So, if you ever feel like talking….”

Halfway through her sentence he turned away so only his back faced her. Kagome’s smile wilted a little, but she shrugged it off. Maybe he had a reason, one that she wasn’t privy to.

That night though, as she attempted to sleep Kagome couldn’t help but feel a little hurt at the demon’s dismissal. Perhaps it was time to leave this place. She couldn’t stay here forever. She was never born to be a hermit, and she didn’t think she could ever become one. As a child she had always been social, and the solemnity of her new life was almost monastic in her separation. She needed friends.

As she drifted off Kagome thought perhaps she would plan tomorrow. If she had been awake long enough she would have seen the figure of a man entering the cave, studying her with his hard, golden eyes.

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It was a week before the thought entered Kagome’s head again. In that time she was too preoccupied with the odd things that kept popping up. Or it was more like one odd thing, and that was the near disappearance of Sesshomaru. Majority of his time was spent in the clearing while she moved around performing various necessities. Yet the last few days she had spent mostly alone, Sesshomaru only making an appearance partway through the night and leaving well before dawn. Concern clouded Kagome’s thoughts well throughout the week. While washing her spare change of clothes, when bathing, when preparing meals—the image of the demon would always appear.

And the more he disappeared the more she thought about leaving. Maybe her mind was cleared by his steadfast absence, or maybe it was just the biting loneliness slowly worming its way into her heart, but Kagome was feeling an itch for humanity.

The morning dawned bright and chill, a thin glaze of dew the only remnant of night. Sesshomaru, again, had taken his leave, and only a short while later Kagome began to back a bag of perceived necessities. Jerky, rice, a fur, water flask—light but with enough to survive. As she finished packing Kagome stood up to survey what had been her living area for weeks—perhaps months. Something like guilt tugged at her chest, but she forced herself to ignore it. As much as she had grown fond of the demon and Inuyasha, she just couldn’t imagine herself surviving as she had.

Hefting the bag over her shoulder, Kagome began her trek away from the clearing, and away from the demon.